A Few Thoughts on Sleep Tracking
We all sleep. It is a basic human need that is necessary for our bodies to function correctly. However, our busy lives and hectic schedules seem to make it difficult to get enough sleep. I became curious about how I sleep and began to track my efforts. I thought, “I track my runs, my bike rides, and should track my food to some degree; so why not my sleep? Many of today’s “wearable” devices such as smartwatches or fitness trackers track your sleep and provide information on the quality and time spent in different cycles of sleep.
Most of us have heard tracking your sleep can be a helpful tool to improve your overall health and well-being. By tracking your sleep, you can begin to see patterns or behaviors that may be hindering your ability to get enough rest. For instance, if you notice that you are consistently waking up in the middle of the night or feeling groggy during the day, reviewing your sleep data and timing of going to sleep may help you change up your routine to improve your sleep and how you feel the next day.
Another benefit of sleep tracking is that it can help you improve your physical and mental abilities during the day. Getting enough sleep is crucial for maintaining a healthy body and mind. During sleep your body goes through various stages. Each stage has its impact on both your physical and mental recovery. When you track your sleep, you can ensure that you are getting enough restorative sleep and wake up feeling refreshed and energized.
In addition to improving physical and mental abilities, sleep tracking can also improve cognitive function. Sleep is essential for memory consolidation, or transferring information from short-term to long-term memory. Making sure you are getting adequate sleep can enhance your memory and learning abilities. This can be beneficial for work and/or school depending on where you are in life..
Finally, tracking your sleep may help point to underlying health issues that may be affecting your sleep. For example, if you notice that you are experiencing frequent snoring, breathing difficulties, or short pauses in breathing while you sleep, could be a sign of sleep apnea. If you have done all you can to improve your sleep and still notice something is “off” seek appropriate medical attention to address them and improve your sleep and quality of life.
To wrap it up, sleep tracking is an effective method for improving your ability to get enough sleep, feel rested, and improve your physical and mental abilities during the day. Monitoring sleep patterns may improve your overall health as long as you address any negative patterns you find. Working on your sleep in both quality and quantity can have a great impact on your overall health, wellness, and longevity.